MISSISSIPPI STREET ROD ASSOCIATION

NEWSLETTER February 1997 No, 120

BITS & PIECES Those of you who are running an antique tag on your vehicle take note. House Bill 1411 introduced by repr. Robinson from Quitman proposes to change the current status of the antique auto tag. Section 4 has been added stating "It shall be unlawful for any vehicle that displays an antique automobile license plate to be operated on the public roads, streets or highways in this state on any day of the week except Sunday unless such vehicle, at the time of its operation, is participating in a bona fide parade, celebration or auto showing." As of 1/29/97 no action has been taken on the bill. It is in the tag sub-committee chaired by rep. Bobby Moak. His phone number in Jackson is 359-2435. Or you can leave a message for him to call you at 359-3376. This legislative change could severely affect the way many of us enjoy our antiques and classics. I don't know what triggered this response, but someone requested Robinson to file the bill. I've heard that a recent large request for antique tags (good on any 25 year old vehicle) caused the Tax Commission to take a look at the dollar impact of lost taxes, and decide that something needed to be done. You guys over at the Queen City club need to get on your rep from Quitman and see what gives. Turn Glen Dewesse loose on him and try to get this stopped before it gets out of committee. Long-time street rodder Joe Doyle is in Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. Joe was diagnosed last week with lung cancer. Pneumonia and other complications led to emergency surgery. One lung was removed. Joe was in very serious shape in ICU for a couple of days, but word received today, 1/29, is that he is improving. The doctor gave him the thumbs up this morning and he was able to sit up briefly, during which time he wanted to know how soon he could go home. Now don't that sound just like him? Join us in praying for Joe's continued recovery so he will be back running with us soon_ Joe, I made your room reservation for Dixie Run in June. I'll write your confirmation number at the end of this letter. Y'all send Joe a card or letter at his home address: Joe Doyle, 101 Oakland Park Drive, Montz, LA 70068 Getting a card can make you feel a lot better, believe me. Get well soon Joe Got a call from Zack Smith with the River City Rods in Greenville. They are working hard on their April 18-20 rod run. The run will benefit Friends of St. Jude children's hospital this year. The Las Vegas Casino will help sponsor the show. Starting off with a bang on Friday night will be a free bar-b-q rib supper at the host motel parking lot, followed by a 50's sock hop sponsored by the Washington County hospitality & tourism association. The casino is working to book some 50's entertainers that weekend. Saturday there will be games and a swap meet. This swap meet will be conducted by a professional auctioneer. If you have some parts or a whole car you want to sell, bring it and the auctioneer might be able to get a deal for you. There will be a Saturday door prize auction with play money won during the day by answering trick questions and playing the games. A huge $1000 poker run will be held Saturday afternoon ending with a show & shine on the levee late that afternoon. Shoney's restaurant will offer a 10% discount to rodders on any meal that weekend. On Sunday there will, be a painting contest for the kids using wooden model cars. A mayor's trophy plus other awards will be given on Sunday. The Las Vegas casino will be giving away an automobile-possibly a street rod-that weekend. So plan on going to this run and helping the St. Jude hospital help their kids. Entry blanks are being reprinted and will be available soon. Those of you who have been reading this newsletter for a the past year or so recall how we had fun with the "accidents" Sherry Fisackerly has had. (Falling down steps and blowing up her bar-b-q grille) Well it seems that now we have someone in our own club who is trying to rival the escapades of Ms. Fisackerly. I was told about this last month but too late to get it in the January letter. But y'all know me, when somebody messes up, the world will know about it. According to a reliable source, one of our newest club members, Cherrell Grogan., was

eating in a local restaurant when she dropped something under the table. When she crawled under the table to look for whatever she had dropped, it was too dark to see anything. So she lit a cigarette lighter to help brighten the search scene. The lighter ignited one of her false fingernails. So there she is, under the table in a crowded restaurant-- with her hand on fire. Now, my reliable source did not tell me how she got out of this mess, he was too busy laughing to finish the story. So I guess you'll have to think up your own ending. I have. I can envision her crashing out from under the table and sticking her hand in some old lady's glass of iced tea to put out the smoldering digit. So welcome to MSRA, Cherrell. Gosh I hope she has a sense of humor-Oh well The Rock & Roll Revival by the Queen City Rodders in Meridian the last week of September is changing dates and moving to a different motel this year. The new date is September 26-28 and the new site is the Best Western on the south frontage road We did not have it on the calendar at the planning meeting last month, but Red Hudson tells me the date for the Catfish Run in Sardis is July 25-27. The host motel has also changed. The Klassy Kruzers run in Crossett, Arkansas is also changing dates to avoid conflict with the Shreveport NATS. It will be held June 27-29. Their motel is changing names, but the location is the same. If you had reservations made last year, the new motel management there will honor them The motel in McComb is also changing names. When I was there last fall, it was Armada, but it may change again to a Best Western and the host motel in Brookhaven is also still changing names. What in the world is going on here? Other clubs have elected officers since last we mentioned them. Joey Oiler is the new president of the Singing River club; Mike Montgomery will again be president of Street Rods Limited in Tupelo; Jeff Collins leads the Vicksburg Cruisers; Zack Smith is president of The River City Rods in Greenville; and Ronnie Beemon heads up the crew with the Queen City Rods over in Meridian Bubba is still in charge of Rude & the Dudes and he appointed Grady as vice president. I guess Rocky couldn't handle all the responsibility Several of our bunch are planning to make the run to Diamondhead. Results from there will be in next month's letter

ANNUAL STREET ROD CLUBS PLANNING MEETING It was cold outside, but the fun and fellowship made it warm inside as 29 people from 10 street rod clubs from throughout Mississippi made it to Jackson for this annual meeting. Represented at the meeting were rodders from Mississippi Street Rod Association of Jackson, Dixie Street Rods of McComb, Mid Mississippi Cruisers of Jackson, Street Rods Limited of Tupelo, River City Rods of Greenville, Vicksburg Cruisers of Vicksburg, Ole Brook Cruisers of Brookhaven, Singing River Street Rods from Biloxi, Rude & the Dudes from Gulfport, and Queen City Rods & Customs from Meridian. Also on hand were vendors T-Tommy Smith of T-Tommy's T shirts and trophies in Brookhaven and Bubba Nottingham of Frames & Thangs in Hazlehurst. Also on hand were National Street Rod Association state representative Tommy "Chicken Willie" Smith, state inspector Sammie Howell and NSRA Southeastern Regional Director Mike Mayfield from Alabama. Each club represented was given a chance to preview their 1997 events. From this, a calendar of all events was put together. A listing of this schedule appears elsewhere in this newsletter. Looks like a concentrated effort was made this year to cooperate with each other as no conflicting dates are scheduled on any Mississippi events. There are, however, some conflicts with events in adjoining states or with national sanctioned events, but we really have no control over that. The schedule from March through October is quite full with some months having an event every weekend. A variety of subjects were discussed. Each club was asked to appoint a safety inspector. This inspector will be able to perform the NSRA safety inspection and award a sticker if the rod passes the inspection. Each club was encouraged to make all their events more family oriented. Clubs were encouraged to publish a newsletter and to share it with other clubs. The growing amount of street rod information available on the internet was discussed. After a break for lunch, there was a question & answer session with the NSRA staff on hand. With the meeting over about 2 o'clock there was a flurry of phone number and address swapping among most everyone there as goodbys were said until the rod run season kicks off in two weeks. And as usual, Randy Wilson kept everyone entertained. It was fun being a part of this meeting again, and we thank all of you who came. Plan to be at next year's meeting which will probably be held

about the same time of the year.

GARAGE SCENE Gene Purser has a new Griffin radiator for his '40 Ford coupe. He says it appears to be working well. OK Gene, try it out at the Dixie National Parade Jackie Sifford hauled his F-100 truck, a gas pump, a coke box, an old drive-in movie speaker, the club banner, and other assorted 50's motiff items to the Holiday Inn for a display at their recent regional manager's meeting. The motel staff got in to the theme, building a miniature drive-in theater screen on one wall and hanging old 45 records from the ceiling all over the meeting room. Then, Jim Ingle, the motel manager dressed like Elvis and rode Jackie's pedal car/wagon in to the room while popping wheelies. I hear the Harvey Hotel upper management folks were very impressed by all this and the club got some excellent publicity from it Round One says he has Mike's truck back on four wheels Joe's shop is still progressing. He is putting light fixtures in it as I write this .

One day soon he's going to even work on a car in it We're still making progress on our projects. Charlotte made me stop one day and clean the shop up. She even helped. It had gotten to where I could not even walk around the cars. I misplaced the transmission cooler bracket I'd made. Even after cleaning up the place I still couldn't find it. Didn't like it any way. So I had to stop and make a new one which is better than the first one, so I guess that worked out OK I ran in to Bill Echols last week. He's back in the street rod building business part- time in Richland T-Tommy told me he has been working on his pickup street rod. I'd probably have bought a ticket to see that. This recent cold wet weather sure doesn't make anyone want to work on their street rods. I'm gonna keep Critter inside Feb 2 so he won't scare the ground hog. Come on springtime Sammie has not been working on his cars lately-he got a new computer. He and Kim have been setting up a web site for our club. They almost had it fixed last week when something went out on their computer and lost all the data. As soon as the computer is repaired we'll be able to tell all you computer types where to call us up for MSRA info. Might even scan in a picture of Critter and me. They also listed our rod run on one of the free bulletin boards available for that purpose on AOL.

1997 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FEBRUARY 8 Dixie National Rodeo Parade, Jackson & shop tour to Frames & Thangs FEBRUARY 15 MSRA club meeting-6:30 at Jerry's Fish House in Florence

MARCH 1 Ricky Salyer Show at Brookhaven Mississippi MARCH 7-9 Bayou Self Cajun Cruise #10 . Houma, Louisiana MARCH 14-16 Northeast Louisiana Custom Nationals. West Monroe, Louisiana MARCH 23 Critter's cruise-in, Chilidogs & Chocolate Cake birthday bash-at my house MARCH 29 Dogwood Run to Natchez by Vicksburg Cruisers

APRIL 5 APRIL 5-7 APRIL 11-13 APRIL 11-13 APRIL 11-13 APRIL 18-20 APRIL 18-20 APRIL 19-20 APRIL 25-27

MAY 2-4 MAY 16-18 MAY 16-18 MAY 23-25

4th Annual Classics on the Grounds car show. Hattiesburg, Mississippi Rods of South Arkansas rod run. Magnolia, Arkansas 25th Deep South Rod Run. Birmingham, Alabama Bunny Run IV. Jackson Tennessee

Rollin' Rods of East Texas rod tun Kilgore, Texas Friends of St. Jude, River City Rod Run. Greenville, Mississippi Sunny Beaches Rod Run. Pensacola, Florida Super Chevy Sunday. Memphis Motorsports Park Memphis Tennessee 15th Annual Dixie Street Rods run. Armada Inn, McComb, Mississippi

NSRA South NATS Knoxville Tennessee Spring Fling Rod Run. Covington, Louisiana pre '69 Silver Dollar Rod Run Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 15th annual Moonlighters rod run. Minden, Louisiana

JUNE 13-15 19th DIXIE RUN at HOLIDAY INN in JACKSON MISSISSIPPI JUNE 20-22 Noccalula Falls Rod Run Gadsden Alabama JUNE 27-29 Klassy Kruzers Rod Run . Crossett, Arkansas pre '66

JULY 11-13 NSRA Southwest Nationals, Fairgrounds, Shreveport, Louisiana JULY 18-20 10th Annual Autorama at Coast Coliseum. Biloxi, Mississippi JULY 18-20 Rod & Custom Americruise '97 to Springfield, Illinois JULY 25-27 Catfish Run Miss. Delta Street Rods. Sardis Mississippi JULY 31- NSRA Nationals, Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

AUG 3

AUG 8-10

Rude & the Dudes rod run II . Biloxi Ms AUG 29-31 19th R.O.D.S. Labor Day run Baton Rouge, Louisiana

SEPT 5-6

Shades of the Past Rod Run XV. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee SEPT 12-14 9th Ole Brook Cruisers rod run. Brookhaven, Mississippi SEPT 19-21 Singing River Rod Run . Biloxi, Mississippi SEPT 19-21 Shelby County Street Rods rod run. Memphis, Tennessee SEPT 26-28 Queen City Rod & Custom Rock & Roll Revival. Meridian Mississippi

OCT 3-5

Arkansas SRA rod run. Lake DeGray, Arkansas OCT 9-12

Cruisin' the Coast car show & Music fest. Various Gulf Coast venues OCT 10-12 Ole South Rod Run V West Monroe, La OCT 17-19 NSRA Southeast Nats. Tampa, Florida OCT 24-26 Halloween Fun Run. Street Rods Ltd. Tupelo Mississippi

NOV 28-30 Turkey Run. West Fla Street Rods. Pensacola, Florida

DEC 13

Toys for Tots Santa Cruise. Singing River Rods, Biloxi Mississippi

HEY DON'T MISS THIS Saturday, February 8 we will be riding in the Dixie National Rodeo Parade. This is the largest parade held each year in Jackson. Our record number of rods participating is 25 . That year, we had rods from Jackson, McComb, Brookhaven, Nesbitt, and a couple of other towns riding with us. Come help us break that record this year. As an additional incentive to get you to come to Jackson we are planning some big stuff do after the parade. Lee and Bubba Nottingham, owners of Frames & Thangs street rod fabricators in Hazlehurst, have generously offered to give us a tour of their shop. So quick as the parade is over, we'll hit the road in a caravan down I 55 south to Hazlehurst. This is a one -time offer to visit their place before they get so busy and famous that they don't have time to fool with us any more. After the shop tour, we'll all converge on the Family Fish House in Hazlehurst for lunch. After lunch; well who knows what else we might come up with. So how's that for a mid -winter street rod adventure. The parade starts at 9 a.m. Be there no later than 8:30. From the response I've already gotten, there's no telling who might show up, so plan to fall in there with us and ride along. To get to the parade start, take the Pearl Street exit 96A off 155 and follow the Jefferson Street/Coliseum signs to Jefferson street where we'll be waiting for you. Our starting position this year is 8B. Parade officials will direct you to it. The parade goes a couple of miles through downtown Jackson (if you run hot, just drop out) and winds up back on Jefferson Street where we started. After the parade, there is usually a great deal of traffic confusion, so we'll need to group up again on I 55 south at the Elton Road exit 88. There is a service station/convenience store here where you can gas up, snack or make a pit stop while we wait for everyone to make it through the traffic from the parade. We'll pull out at 10:30 and caravan to Hazlehurst. Monitor CB channel 17 on the trip to keep up with the group. And don't be surprised to see all of this covered soon in Street Scene.

DON'T MISS THIS EITHER Sunday March 23 y'all ALL are invited to my birthday party.-And Wayne Thomas, Sandy Wade, and John Little's birthday party. This will be celebrated with a shindig in my back yard titled Critter's Cruise, Chili Dogs and Chocolate Cake. Come on. If you like Chili Dogs and Chocolate Cake, just bring yourself on. That's the menu. Now don't come out here in your old family car. Wayne and John and Sandy and Critter and I want to see streets rods or custom classics all over this hill. So if you're reading this newsletter, you are invited. But PLEASE, PLEASE CALL and let me know you're coming so I'll know how much chili to cook and how many hot dogs and how much cake to bake. Charlotte has already expressed fear that this thing might get too big--She worries too much. I just want to see a bunch of our friends in their street rods come and have a good time visiting that day. Everyone who comes even gets a dash plaque along with a chili dog and some chocolate cake. It is rumored that Randy Wilson will be here with Dixie, so that takes care of the entertainment. Bubba has been invited also. Since I hope some of you out -of-town friends can come too, it will be a come and go deal to suit your travel schedule. The hot dogs will be ready about noon, so you can come when you want to and leave when you have to. Take the Byram exit off I 55, go northwest on Siwell road two miles to the BP station , then left on Davis road one mile to Davis Road Cove. We are at 106.-the third house on the right. Come join us!! Jimmy Creel says we'll have a MSRA club meeting later that day also, after everything settles down.

TUESDAY CRUISE DATES Feb. 4 McAlister's on Lakeland Drive Feb. 11 Scottie's Drive In on Terry Road Feb. 18 Mazzios Pizza in Brandon Feb. 25 Wynndale Market on Spring Ridge Road March 4 Hudgey's Restaurant on Daniel Lake Drive March 11 Jerry's Fish House in Florence

DIXIE RUN UPDATE Over 200 entry blanks have been mailed, out, and some have already started coming back. Already we have entries from Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Virginia, and Tennessee. The room block in is place and some reservations have already been made. You will have best results making reservations if you call 601/355-3472 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and ask for Linda Collins. Jackie is working on two wipe-out boards this year. There are two really nice sets of Craftsman tools to be given away to a couple of lucky pre-registered rodders, so get those entry blanks in soon to be eligible for that. Prez Jimmy plans to make game and trophy assignments at the next club meeting, so be there to get the ones you want. I sat down inside one day during the freezing rain outside and numbered all the window stickers and part of the goodie bags. It's not at all too early to start rounding up door prizes. A couple of letters to vendors requesting goodie bag items have already gone out and I'll send some more next time it gets too cold to work on my Chevy. So I guess things are on track for another great Dixie Run.

NEXT CLUB MEETING Next club meeting will be Saturday, February 15, at 6:30 at Jerry's Fish House on 49 south in Florence. This is the first meeting of 97 with our new club officers in charge. Jimmy says we will begin to discuss plans for Dixie Run.

Don't forget to keep Joe Doyle in your thoughts and prayers.

Tit Next Time Drive Carefully